In 2020, Toolik Field Station, in collaboration with our Steering Committee, started our donation-based early career research award to cover the costs of user days for early career researchers. Known as the TUNDRA award, short for Toolik User days for Naturally Developing Research Abilities, this program funds selected students and early career researchers with up to ten days at the field station to conduct an independent research project. After delays due to COVID, we finally were able to welcome our inaugural cohort of TUNDRA awardees in summer 2022.